Insect Pest - Caterpillars | University of Maryland Extension

Updated: October 23, 2024

Managing Fall Armyworm in Pastures and Hayfields

Although fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a native pest to North America and a chronic pest in the southeastern US, reports of fall armyworm activity and outbreaks are unusually high this year. There are numerous reports of heavy fall armyworm activity coming out of Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and other states. In Maryland, there have been cases reported across much of the state so far, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Calvert, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, and Washington counties. Weather conditions have allowed fall armyworm to flourish this year, so producers are encouraged to be on the lookout for potential problems.

Figure 1. Fall armyworm larvae. Image: Blake Layton, MSU-ES.

Updated: October 23, 2024

Early Season Insect Management: Climbing Cutworms

This general term applies to the larvae (caterpillars) of a large number of butterfly/moth species (Lepidoptera) in the noctuid family that feed on buds, young shoots and leaves. Cutworm damage most commonly occurs in vineyards with weeds under the trellis or mulch, and in sandy or light colored soils.

Updated: October 23, 2024

Podworms in Soybeans

Figure 1. Corn earworm/soybean podworm moths are robust, light brownish-tan with a 1” to 1 1/2” wingspan. They have a prominent dark spot on each forewing. They tend to be active during the evening and dark hours but can be commonly seen in fields during the day. Photo by Ronald Smith, Auburn University, Bugwood.org.

Updated: October 23, 2024

Corn Earworm Pheromone Trapping

Current corn earworm pheromone trap captures in Maryland and Delaware and pest management recommendations.

Updated: October 23, 2024

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Images

Eastern tent caterpillar and moth photos

Updated: October 23, 2024

Managing Some Hard to Control Vegetable Pests of the mid-Atlantic Region

Over the last 4-5 years I have received calls and emails from growers about insect pests that they cannot seem to control as well as they had in the past. This presentation is going to look at some of the top vegetable pests that growers in the mid-Atlantic have had problems with and some ways to mitigate those problems.

Updated: October 23, 2024

Scouting For Podworms

It's time to start scouting for podworms (Helicoverpa zea) in double-crop soybeans. There have been reports of high numbers of small and young pod worms and soybean loopers in double-crop soybean on the Delmarva. Podworms prefer fields that are flowering, open canopy, and stressed and have been recently sprayed with a non-selective insecticide. Their population can be spotty, so one field can be high while the field next to it is low, so the only way to know what is happening in a particular field is to sample it. You can sample for podworms using either a sweep net or drop cloth.

Figure 1. Yellow colored podworm feeding in soybean. Image: Clemson University, USDA Cooperative Exension Slide Series, Bugwood.org

Updated: October 23, 2024

Metamorphosis: The Life Stages of a Monarch Butterfly on Milkweed in North East, Maryland (FS-1144)

The monarch butterfly needs help from all the people and businesses across the country, not just a few. As researchers discover the direct effect of the decline of these amazing insects, we the people need to take action to help correct the problem. The purpose of this Extension Fact Sheet is to help eliminate one threat to the monarchs; uneducated humans. Humans that do not know what the monarch butterfly looks like in the caterpillar stage will oftentimes kill it when they find it in their garden. Knowing what the life stages of the monarch butterfly looks like, and protecting them allows another monarch butterfly to reach maturity, meaning it can then lay more eggs to produce more butterflies. Saving one butterfly at a time. Author: Doris Behnke; Metamorphosis: The Life Stages of a Monarch Butterfly on Milkweed in North East, Maryland ((FS-1144)

Updated: October 23, 2024

Summary of the Comparative Efficacy of Common Active Ingredients in Organic Insecticides Against Difficult to Control Insect Pests

There exists a lack of control efficacy information to enable decision-making about which organic insecticide product works best for a given insect pest. Here we summarize results of 153 field trials on the control efficacy of common active ingredients in organic insecticides against groups of the most difficult to control insect pests. The performance of organic products Entrust (spinosad), Azera (pyrethrin and azadirachtin), PyGanic (pyrethrin) and Neemix (azadirachtin) varied widely among pest groups, as well as among pest species within a group, providing an overall reduction in pest infestations by 73.9%, 61.7%, 48.6% and 46.1%, respectively.

Updated: October 23, 2024

August IPM Insect Scouting Tips

August IPM insect scouting tips on soybean, field corn, and sorghum.